Glasgow Rangers have claimed their 11th League Cup after defeating old local rivals Celtic 2-1 at the Hampden Park. Jelavic’s extra-time winner brought Walter Smith’s side a well-deserved victory over the leaders. Rangers were also the first to attack, the first chance belonging to Lafferty whose eighth minute shot went just wide and over the bar. Celtic’s first reply came late in the 22nd minute. Commons’s cross met Brown in good position but striking it just wide of the left post to the dismay of Johan Mjallby.
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Just two minutes later, Rangers opened the score through Davis. Celtic lost the ball 30 yards out, the midfielder starting a ten-yard drive to beat Forster with a superb shot from the edge of the box into the left post. Celtic was one step from the equalizer in the 26th minute. Wilson fed Hooper with a lovely cross the striker headed it poorly to allow the Rangers clear the air as just.
But Mjallby’s side would level the score in the 31st minute. A cross from the left was headed twice by Samaras and Joe Ledley whose finish beat Alexander for the first time. Jevalic was the first to see a yellow card for diving inside the box but after the referee changed his mind. Initially, Craig Thompson had shown the white spot in what could have been a crucial turning point. 1-1 at the break as both sides were chasing their second one.
The early minutes of the second part found Rangers missing three important opportunities. Lafferty missed the target with a header that should have gone much better, while Whittaker’s shot was blocked by keeper Forster. Finally, Wylde’s cross met Weir’s header which went just wide of the far post. Celtic’s first chance came in the 50th minute. Brown fed Commons on the left but the left midfielder’s strike hit Papac. The left defender would see a yellow ten minutes later for a clumsy intervention on Izaguirre.
Another questionable action occurred in the 61st minute when Wilson was supposed to have played the ball with the arm. But no penalty was given though. Kayal was also cautioned five minutes later for a foul on Naismith. Rangers won a free-kick in the 68th minute, but Wilde’s execution was tipped by Forster. Hooper tried his luck with another perfect shot which finally reached the stands. The scoreboard showed the same 1-1 result after the first 90 minutes as extra-time was needed.
Jelavic made it 2-1 just four minutes into the first quarter. Rangers’ left striker put it home following a ten-yard drive which found the player marked by two defenders, but breaking through to give Smith’s side a crucial long-awaited lead. The last minute of play brought Izaguirre a red card for his sins following a corner. It went 2-1 as Rangers claimed their 11th CIS Cup.
Celtic – Froster; Wilson, Rogne, Mulgrew, Iazguirre; Commons, Ledley, Kayal, Brown; Hooper, Samaras. Reserves: L. Zaluska, S. Ki, A. Stokes, P. McCourt, G. Loovens.
Glasgow Rangers – Alexander; Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Wylde, Edu, Davis, Naismith; Lafferty, Jelavic. Reserves: K. Hutton, E. Diouf, V. Weiss, A. McGregor, D. Healy.
